Connector for windshield wiper blade assembly



F. A. KROHM 2,728,934

CONNECTOR FOR WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADE ASSEMBLY Jan. 3, 1956 Original Filed April 17, 1952 mm +m w Z 2 B 'm s 1 1 I 3 2 ITM. F Jlf .I I KN h P I I 1f 1 \3 5. mi 2 an Om INVENTOR.

FRED A. KROHM WWW ,4/

ATT

United States Patent CONNECTOR FOR WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADE ASSEMBLY Fred A. Krohm, Hobart, Ind., assignor to Productive Inventions, Inc., a corporation of hidiana Original application April 17, 1952, Serial No. 282,846. Divided and this application January 30, 1953, Serial No.334,148

11 Claims. (Cl. 15-250) This invention relates generally to windshield wiper apparatus and more particularly is directed to a connector on a wiper blade assembly or unit adapted for attachment to a wiper arm.

At least one form of wiper blade assembly now in use for wiping fiat and/or curved surfaces of Windshields comprises a blade and a pressure distributing device operatively connected to the blade. More specifically in this regard, the blade is preferably comprised of av resilient wiping element and a flexible support therefor, and the pressure distributing device preferably includes a pair of secondary yokes having their ends connected to the blade and a primary yoke or bridge means having its extremities connected to intermediate portions of the secondary. The primary yoke or bridge is provided with a connector detachably connectable with a fitting'carried by a wiper arm.

A significant object of the invention is to provide the primary yoke with an improved connector for detachable connection with a wiper arm.

A specific object of the invention is to provide a connector with means for attaching it to the primary yoke in a manner whereby the central portion of the primary yoke is strengthened or reinforced.

Another object of the invention is to provide a connector comprising a housing, a latch and resilient means which are operatively associated with one another and the primary yoke in a novel manner.

A further object of the invention is to design and construct the latch in such a way that it cannot be inadvertently displaced once the blade assembly is connected to a wiper arm.

Other attributes of the invention reside in its simplicity of design and construction, economy of manufacture, durability, and efliciency of operation.

Many other objects and advantages of the invention will present itself when the description herein set forth is considered in conjunction with the drawings annexed hereto.

in the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section taken through the central part of the primary yoke and the connector showing the latch in an operative position to hold an entering part on a wiper arm to the connector;

Figure 2 is a sectional view, similar to Figure 1, showing the latch and resilient means associated therewith in a retracted position to permit entry of an entering part carried by the wiper arm;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken through an appropriate part of the connector showing certain details of construction;

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the resilient means which serves to maintain the latch in an operative position;

Figure 5 is an end view of Figure 6; and

Figure 6 is a longitudinal section, similar to Figure 1, showing an adapter detachably connecting the arm. part with the connector carried-by the primary yoke.

2,728,934 Patented Jan. 3, 1956 ice This application is a division of my application Serial No. 282,846, filed April 17, 1952.

The connector 17 above referred to, which is supported on the central portion 22 of the primary yoke designated 15, will now be described. This connector is preferably made in the form of a channel housing having an outer base wall 24, parallel side walls 25, and a curved end wall 26 which is a continuation of the base wall. Each of the side walls is provided with a pair of fingers 27 which extend through rectangular holes provided therefor in the base wall of the central portion 22 of the primary yoke and are bent laterally toward the side walls of the central portion to permanently secure the housing to the yoke as illustrated in Figures 1 through 6. The connections between the connector and the primary yoke and. their locations are preferably such that the shallow central portion of the yoke is reinforced to prevent buckling or distortion thereof. Since provision is made for reinforcing the central portion, the central area of the primary yoke can be made shallower in depth and if desirable the side walls of the central portion can be omitted. This setup also allows for a greater spacing between the blade and the primary yoke to permit escape of ejected snow without increasing the overall width of the blade assembly. The connections between the connector and primary yoke also prevent spreading apart of the side walls of the connector.

The housing is provided with an opening or recess 28 formed by cut-outs in the side walls and base wall. This opening is adapted to receive the entering part 18 preferably in the form of a cross-pin carried by the side walls of the wiper arm channel part 19 as mentioned above. The base of the opening or recess 28 constitutes abutment means which is. engaged by the cross-pin.

The yieldable holding or locking means for detachably holding the entering part in the opening includes a latch and resilient means in the form of a leaf spring for normally maintaining the latch in a locking position as shown in Figures 1 and 6. The spring includes a square portion 29 and a curved tongue 30 as shown in Figure 4. A round aperture 31 is provided in the square portion. The inner end of the latch is provided with a hook 32 which extends through the aperture 31 and also through a similar aligned aperture 33 in the base wall of the yoke as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 6 to interlock the latch and spring and the latch to the yoke. It will be noted that the square portion of the spring is of a size to be caught or anchored down between the lower marginal edges of the side walls of the housing and the yoke as shown in Figure 3 to predetermine the position of the curved tongue 30 so that only its free end will engage the outer extremity of the latch at a point remote from its inner point of connection with the yoke as shown in Figure 1.

The outer end of the latch is provided with an angularly disposed handle 34 located exteriorly of the housing so that it is readily accessible for manipulation. The latch is provided with a pair of cor-responding parallel offsets 35 which impart rigidity to the latch and assist in stabilizing its movement by more or less engaging the side walls of the connector housing. Each of the olfsets is formed to provide a nose portion 36 which is slightly inturned and normally obstructs the entrance to the opening 28 in the connector.

When the entering part 18 is pressed suficiently against the nose portions the latch will be cammed inwardly to allow full entry of the entering part whereupon the latch will automatically snap outwardly to entrap the part to connect the wiper blade assembly to a wiper arm as shown in Figure 1. The inner marginal edge of each oifset is preferably formed to provide a generally V-shaped notch 0 37 which receives the entering part as shown in Figure 6. The outer marginal edge of each offset adjacent the nose is provided with an abutment 38 which is adapted to engage theuppertransverse marginal edge portion '39 of the base wall 24 as shown-in Figure l to prevent accidental retraction of the latch-when theenteringparb-for any reason maybe forced. outwardly against the: ottsets.

Attention is directed to thefacb'that each .ofitheside walls-25 orthe connector housing. is .preferably provided with a pair of longitudinally spaced transverse depressions forming ribs40. 'These ribs are located adjacent the endsof'the connector and extend outwardly therefrom. as clearly exemplified in Figures" 1. and 3 for reinforcing thesidewalls of the connector. "Theseribs.alsoserve to-compensate for certain Variations.inthewidths of different types of channel .connectorparts whichare adapted for support ona wiper arm. j-Moreparticularly in this regard, Figure 1 illustrates a channel arm part 1% of one type which isof a length toj'fit substantiallybetween the 1ibs 40,"whereas in FjguresS a1id'6 thereis shown a. channel-part 41.for detachably; holding an.arm,part.19 betweenithe partand the connector 17. flThe part. 4l..more or less straddles the connector and engages the ribs .40. The spacing between the side walls of .the adapter-41 is of'coursegreaterthan the spacinglbetween the walls of thearm part 19. Thus, it will be apparentfthat the ribs compensate for variations in widths of certain connectors.

The; latch, spring, housing and primaryy'oke may be assembled together inva'rious ways but'are preferably assembled by placing the housing with'its open side up in afixture; locating the latch in the housing, positioning the spring on the'latch with the-hook'32 of the-latch projecting upwardly through the hole. 31 in the. spring. The primary yoke isthen movedinto positionso that the hook 32 is caught. in the aperture'33jin the yoke and the fingers .27 on the housing extend through the rectangular openings in the primary yoke, after which ltheifingers are bent outwardly as clearly illustrated in Figures 1 and. 2 to permanentlylock'the housing to theyoke and the latch. and spring substantially within the confines of the housing.

Having thus described my invention it willbe. obvious that .various modifications may be made'in thesame without'departing from the spirit offthe invention, hence I do not'wish toibeilimited in its scope other 'thandefined in the claims appended hereto.

'1 claim:

1. A support, a connector carried by said support, said connector including a'housing, an openingprovided in thehousing, alocking element and elongated resilient means, and means connecting the" locking element to the support, said resilientrneans having an inner end caught betweenithehousing and support and an outer end engaging the locking' elernent at.a .point spacedfromthe connecting means for maintaining'fthe ,1 locking [element in a predetermined positionfor detn'ch'ably securing an entering-part in said opening.

"2. A support member, a connector including a housing member, holes provided in one member and portions. on the other member extending'into the holes and bent to securethe housing member.to the support, .an'opening provided in the housing member, an aperture provided in the'support member, an elongated locking element, a hook provided on the inner end of the element caught in said aperture, means. on the element spacedfrom its inner.end for 'detachably holding an entering part in said opening,and resilient means connected to the element for normally maintaining the element in a predetermined locking position.

3. ;A support, a connector carriedby saidsupport, said connector including a, housing, abutment means provided on the housing, ,a lockingelementand elongated. resilient means, ..and...means. for lholding the locking. element. for movement .with respect to .the .support, said resilient means having an. inner end interlocked with the. locking element and .an outer and engaging: thelocking element at a; point spaced from the..-ho.lding..- .means.for maintain- 4 ing the locking element in a predetermined position for detachably'securingan'entering part in relation to said abutment means.

4. A support, a connector carried by said support, said connector including a housing having side walls provided with inner longitudinal marginal. edges, an opening provided. in the. housing,. andelongated resilient .means having an inner end firmly secured between the marginal edges of the housing and support and an outer free end for engaging andnrging a. locking-:elementiin a direction for detachably securinganientering -part insaid opening.

5. A support, a connector, carried by. saidlsupport, said connector including .aThou's Qg, .an opening ..provided' in the housing, a locking element and elongated .resilient means, said locking element having an integral portion extending through thesupport, said resilient means having an inner end through which the integral portion of thelocking element extends .and anputerendengaging thelocking element at a.point.spaced fromthe integral portionfor maintaining the locking element in..a .predetermined position'tor 'detachably securing anente'ringpart in said opening.

16. A support member, a connector including a; housing member, holesprovided in one member and portions on the-other member extending into the holes and bent to secure the housing member to the support, an opening provided in 'the'housing-member, an aperture provided in the support member, an elongated locking element having meanson its inner end disposed in said aperture, means on the element spaced from its inner end for detachably'holding an 'enternig part in. said .opening,,and resilient. means. secured inthe'housing. and acting .on the element forsnormally maintaining the element in a.predetermined locking position.

7., A support member, a connector including, a housing member; holes provided in. one. member and portions on the other member extendinglintothe. holesandbent to secure the housing member to .the support, .an opening provided in the housing member, elongated resilient means'havingan inner end securedon .the support and a free end, and an elongated locking-Jelementhaving an innerend secured .inbearing-relationshipbn the inner end offthe resilient .means and .an outer. endsupported onfthe-free end of the resilient meansfor detachably holding an entering part in said ,opening.

8. A support, a connector carriedtby. saidsupport, said connector includinga housing provided with .any opening, an elongated spring. having an innersecured end and a free end, and an elongated locking elementhavingan inner .end supported onthe inner. end .of. the. spring .and an. outer ,end bearing. on, the free-end. Ofjthespring. for 'detachably holding. an entering part. in. said. ,opening.

.9..A.. support, a connector including-a housing, holes provided in the. supportand portionsonthe housingextendingintothe, holes and .benttosecurethe housing to the support, an opening providedin the housi lg can aperture provided in the support, aneIOngatedlQcking elemennua'hook provided on .the. inner ,end oftheelement caught in ,said .aperture, means .on .the element spaced .from its .inner end .for .deta'chably holding .an entering part in saidopening, andresilientmeansacting onthe element fornormallymaintaining the element in a predeterrnied locking .position.

10..A..support, a .conneot0r...carried :by said support, said connector including a housing,..abutment means providedonsthe housing, .a locking telementand. resilient means, sand. means foruholding .thelocking element. for movement with respect to the support, said .resilient means .having a .portion interlocked -with the .locking element 'and a; portion, for; engaging the locking-element at a point spaced from the holding means for maintaining the lockingi-element in; a-rwpredetermined:position' for detachably. securing an ;entering ;part.in relationto ;said abutment means.

11. A support .hav-ing az baserwall a connectonsarried 5 ,6 by said support, said connector comprising a housing References Cited in the file of this patent having side walls, an opening provided in the housing, UNITED STATES PATENTS and elongated yieldable means disposed between the 2 4 9 A d 1 1947 side walls and having an inner end pivotally secured to igg g 3:8: 8 1951 b -'a g s the ase wall of the support and an outer end for de 5 2,643,410 Nesson June 1953 tachably securing an entering part in said opening. 

